H.M.S. PLYMOUTH

THIRD SHIP OF THE NAME

THIRD COMMISSION

1964-1966

Captain Thomas Evelyn Fanshawe, D.S.C., ROYAL NAVY

FAR EAST - HOME - FAR EAST Captain Thomas Evelyn Fanshawe, D.S.C., Royal Navy Captain (D) 29th, Escort Squadron. FOREWORD By the Commander, Far East Fleet, Vice Admiral Sir Frank TWISS, KCB, DSC.

Since HMS PLYMOUTH, first commissioned in 1961 she has spent much of her time

East of Suez; indeed she really qualifies as an `old hand'. During this last commission, her third, HMS PLYMOUTH has been part of a great Commonwealth Fleet which has dominated and kept free the seas around Malaysia and Indonesia.

She has played a full part in frustrating aggression (sometimes called confrontation),

and to do this has spent long periods at sea with few opportunities for visits and relaxation. I have been fortunate to have HMS PLYMOUTH under my command both in the Home Fleet and the Far East Fleet and I know that the spirit of the ship has matched that of the City whose name she bears. As you complete yet another commission, with a job well and cheerfully done behind you, I wish you, one and all, good fortune and a bright and happy future.

Vice Admiral

INTRODUCTION By Captain T. E. FANSHAWE, DSC, Royal Navy

When I joined the PLYMOUTH, it was twenty one years since I first assumed command of a Frigate as a young Lieutenant. Since then I have had six commands. In this time I have dependability and loyalty of the sailors who man the ships and uphold the highest traditions of our Service in the most resilient manner. During almost two years, steaming over 100,000 miles, I have always been in the happy position of knowing that I could tackle any task I might be called upon to perform with full confidence that I would be well backed by the Ship's Company. The City of PLYMOUTH is proud of the ship which bears the name so honoured and steeped in Naval History, and to me it has been a privilege as well as a pleasure to be her Captain. Thank you for your support and Good Luck wherever you may go.

Captain H.M.S. Plymouth The Story of the Commission

For most of us, the start was on 17th June "The Clear Trumpet" could be held on board, it's 1964: and while the draft orders said PLYMOUTH, not yet come our way. There was for a few days in fact we joined Devonport Barracks, for the ship some talk of us featuring in a nautical drama was refitting. This, said the signs as people trooped starring Richard Widmark: we were to take the on board every morning, is a Clean Refit: but it part of an American destroyer. Nobody is quite looked very much like any other! Looking back, sure why this plan didn't come off, but it is possible it seems to have been a warm and dusty summer: that the extreme reluctance of some members of or perhaps it was just the haul back to the barracks the ship's company to get crew cuts for the close in the evenings that made the beer taste so good. up shots may have had something to do with it. But out of the chaos came order, and we moved The Christmas leave period had been spent in into the ship on Wednesday, 26th August. We a bitterly cold Portsmouth Dockyard: in February undertook trials, tested and tuned, and generally we returned to Devonport for a further short spell cleaned up and painted, had panics, went on of leave before sailing for the Far East. weekends, and had a commissioning ceremony in in the rain, when Captain T. E. FANSHAWE The First Foreign "Leg" DSC Royal Navy, who had taken over the command earlier in the week from Captain We slipped in the afternoon of 16th February, D. G. KENT the ship's captain in her last com- our departure being watched by a Dockyard cat. mission, read the commissioning warrant on a For many members of a young ship's company, forecastle crowded with the ship's company and this was a first time abroad. First stop, Gibraltar, their friends and relatives, a Royal Marines Band, where we went to the South Mole (where we have the Bishop of Plymouth, and the Lord Mayor and been on all our visits to that delightful port). The representatives of the City of Plymouth. The City ship was floodlit, and a team of volunteers, sent to Council made this the occasion for the presentation the Casino to report, said that she looked well. of a splendid and greatly appreciated silver model Although there were difficulties at the border, of the statue of Sir Francis Drake which stands everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. on Plymouth Hoe. We paused in Malta for a day and a half, old We still remained in and around the Dock- Med, hands being heard to mutter that "things ain't yard: on 13th November, Commander in Chief what they used to be" at the sight of an empty Plymouth Admiral Sir Nigel Henderson KCB OBE Grand Harbour: but a lot of the old haunts still walked round the ship, to be greeted by A. B. survive in spite of the departure of most of the Ward with the remark "Laundry almost ready for Fleet. your inspection, Sir!" this set the note for the rest Two days out from Malta, we met H.M.S. of the inspection. BERWICK and H.M.S. DIDO, on their way back It eventually dawned on even the most ardent from the Far East. We closed them, and were native that R. A. couldn't last for ever, and on given turn-over notes. Members of the ships com- 16th November 1964 we sailed for Portland for a pany near the spud locker exchanged potatoes with winter workup. This was divided into two parts: those similarly situated in H.M.S. BERWICK, but the pre-Christmas leave part, when the weather nobody was hurt in the barrage. So on, through was bad, and we were full of zeal: and the post the Canal, pausing at Port Said for the convoy to Christmas period, when the weather was still bad, assemble, and watch a gully-gully show, in which and we were full of Christmas pudding. The bored looking young chickens were found in the second period contained a week's maintainance, most unlikely places. and Flag Officer Sea Training inspection, which It was widely advertised that we would go we passed successfully, spurred on by the thought into tropical uniform on the day of leaving Suez, that if we didn't we would have to face it all again. but the temperature was such that the sight of an During these winter months the ship had been immense array of white and knobbly knees was much in demand as a film star: an official film postponed for a couple of days. But in the Red called "The Clear Trumpet", all about management Sea the sunbathing addicts first began to take their techniques, was made on board: from time to time vocation seriously, and by the time we were the actors in it can be seen on our television through Aden many people were turning quite a screens, but although we asked if the premiere of respectable shade of brown. A pause at Gan, where the beaches are splendid, and the Royal Air East Station, but "Never on Sunday" doesn't

Force helpful and friendly and we proceeded to apply! Hong Kong was bathed in late spring sun- Singapore, about which the poet was doubtless shine: the harbour as beautiful and crowded as thinking when composing the celebrated "Tiger, ever, and the towns on both sides of the water tiger, burning bright, in the forest of the night . . ." apparently bursting with people and prosperity. For most people, shopping and just taking life as Singapore and Malaysian Patrols it came played havoc with the budget. Some people went on very worthwhile "Exiled" excursions to We arrived at Singapore in March, 1965, and POK LIU CHAU a large and sparsely inhabited we left to return home in mid August: during that island close to Hong Kong: but even this attempt time we had two main cruises: one to Hong Kong, to get away from it all for a couple of days didn't Manila, and Bangkok: and the other to Fremantle seem to save them from the universal spending and Geraldton, Western Australia: most of the spree. But enough is enough, especially when rest of the time was spent on patrol around the you're out of funds: and so we left for MANILA coast of Malaysia. Indonesians bent on "confront- BAY - a brief pause, a considerable distance from ation", were known to be coming across from the town - and then, together with other British Java and Sumatra trying to land in small groups, warships and ships of the United States, Royal with the aim of committing sabotage and generally Australian, and Royal Thai Navies, we sailed for making nuisances of themselves in Malaysia, and exercise SEAHORSE and subsequently, Bangkok, it was the main preoccupation of the Far East which we reached after some days of the intricate Fleet to stop as much of this traffic as possible. chess moves of a big international naval exercise. Before we set sail to play our part in this, however, We were leading a Commonwealth visit to this we went alongside the maintainance ship, H.M.S. interesting city for Commonwealth Day. Over TRIUMPH, as her first customer. We were very 1,000 local inhabitants visited the ships. grateful for the way she not only looked after the The Thai authorities had kindly arranged the material side of things, but provided air condi- berthing of the visiting warships at the main com- tioned living quarters for us when ours became mercial berths at Klong Toey: the city centre was uncomfortable, as the work of the maintainance within fairly easy cab distance. A massive series period progressed. of bus trips was organised, including visits to the Patrolling started in some excitement, since River Kwai bridge and the Commonwealth war H.M.S. AJAX had had a very successful engage- cemetries. An abiding memory of the visit is of ment with some Indonesians only a couple of the charm and courtesy of the Thai people, who months before: we soon came to appreciate that were most pleasant and generous hosts. the mixture was one per cent excitement, and 99% routine - and the excitement rarely seemed to come Fremantle and Geraldton our way - rather to everyones relief, as the First Lieutenant read nightly stories over the broadcast Returning to Singapore, and the pattern of about "kumpits" - the Indonesian small boats- patrols and maintainance, we were surprised and filled with high explosive. The kumpits we stopped delighted to find that the programme, had changed, and searched were found to be going about their as programmes will from time to time. We lost a lawful occasions, and the ship's side remained prospective visit to Hong Kong, but gained in its unscarred by midnight explosions. place a visit to Fremantle and Geraldton, in During the later part of our time on patrol, Western Australia. This trip, it is safe to say, was we were honoured by a visit from the Minister of the highlight of the first foreign leg, and possibly Defence for the Royal Navy CHRISTOPHER of the commission. After a rapid replacement of MAYHEW M.P. On a tour of the ship, he arrived the Main Feed Pump, we proceeded to sea, to find in 7 Mess. "Give me", he said, "two good reasons it a little bumpier than the stuff we'd grown accus- which would make sailors sign on in the Navy." tomed to in the relatively sheltered waters around "Two tots a day", said a voice from the back. the Malaysian coast. Some were seasick, and many others became grumpy, refused their food, and spent more time on the upper deck than usual. Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok But the seas went down a little - and of course On 26th April, we sailed in company with we soon got used to them: the weather grew cooler, H.M.S. WHITBY for Hong Kong, taking in food and crumpled blue suits were brought out and from the FORT CHARLOTTE and fuel from the pressed up, and on the evening of 13th July we WAVE SOVEREIGN on the way: very much the saw the lights of Fremantle. Little did we know standard way of getting food and fuel on the Far at the time that the local press and radio were Supply and Secretariat

Communications

Marine Engineering ward bound. Wishing them well, we hurried on to advertising "WANTED -1,000 WOMEN - to dance with British Sailors" - for there was to be Devonport, to be welcomed, on the late afternoon

of 9th September, by the Officers of the Customs a dance for the ships' companies of H.M.S. and Excise Department, to whom we offered our BULWARK, H.M.S. ZEST, and H.M.S. PLY-

lists. This hurdle over, we awaited the next day MOUTH. I n the event, 1,200 girls turned up. The dance was a tremendous success, as was the when, with wives and families embarked, we sailed whole visit - apart from the experience of one up the harbour and secured alongside in the South Yard, where buses were waiting to take people to sailor, who bought a boomerang, and was delight- ed to find that when he threw it, ashore, it came the station. Leave, docking, and maintainance back. "Look" he said when he got back to the occupied us until the middle of October, when we ship, throwing the boomerang gaily over the sailed for Portland and trial GLOSSOP. This trial middle of Fremantle harbour "it comes back!" had the great merit of being both different from It didn't. After three splendid days, we sailed for the usual run of things, and extremely interesting

A good thing, perhaps, to look back on! Geraldton some 300 miles up the coast. We were in itself. welcomed by a very large crowd, by the Caledo- A weekend at Portsmouth, back to Portland nian Pipe Band, the Sea Cadets (six of whom we for a rather more orthodox weapon training had brought from Fremantle), and an immense period, and then Portsmouth again: but at the end sign saying "WELCOME TO GERALDTON." of October we sailed, in company with other ships The whole keynote of this memorable visit was of the Home Fleet, for the Home Fleet Assembly the friendliness shown to the ships company by at Gibraltar. Seventeen ships were at Gibraltar, the citizens: their interest in the ship - over 3,000 a considerable number by present day standards, of them visited the ship when we were open to although the aged amongst us tend to mutter about visitors, and many more at other times - and last the Combined Fleet Meetings just prior to, and and very far from least, the immense scale of after the last war - "Carriers at the Detached Mole, cruisers in pairs up by the Penns", etc. The hospitality, by all sections of the community. There can hardly have been a member of the ship's weather was good, there was a heavy sporting and company who did not receive private hospitality examination programme, visits to the ship by the of one sort or another. A minor but noteworthy Commander in Chief, Home Fleet Admiral Sir sporting event there was the first and probably the JOHN FREWEN KCB and F02 HF Vice Admiral last appearance of the ship's Australian Rules J.O.C. HAYES CB OBE. football team who won - or dare it be suggested were allowed to win - their match: this result was Londonderry and Rotterdam not achieved by any close regard to the finer points Leaving Gibraltar, we steamed North, in ever of the rules by the ship's team! worsening weather, to Londonderry, off which we The Governor of Western Australia, Major exercised in company with H.M.S. CHICHESTER General Sir Douglas KENDROW came on board, and CAMBRIAN, and the Norwegian Destroyers after which he expressed his gratitude for the visit STAVANGER and BERGEN. During the two which had been a great success. weeks or so that we were in the area, weather conditions slowly improved, but we never reached

Home, Sweet Home. the level of the Malacca Straits! Ashore, a team

Singapore, and the last minute rush to buy of Wrens from H.M.S. SEA EAGLE very sport- the things that we had meant to get during the ingly took us on at hockey, but after the half time past few months, but somehow hadn't. And then interval the teams were re-sorted into composite the 12th August was upon us, and to the strain teams: no match result can be reported! Once of the "Oggie Song" played by the Commander again those who claim to know were able to Far East Fleet's Band - and recorded by us for confirm their views that draught stout is, of course, future use, we sailed for home in company with immensely superior to the bottled kind.

H.M.S. CHICHESTER. We were delighted and On the termination of the exercises, we went honoured to have the Fleet Commander, Vice quickly down to Portsmouth for a brush and clean Admiral Sir Frank TWISS KCB DSC and Lady up before the Squadron, now joined by H.M.S. TWISS to see us off. We trod the same path as RELENTLESS, recently returned from the West the outward journey - Gan, Aden, Suez, Malta, Indies, proceded to Rotterdam, in company with Gibraltar. In the Red Sea we had been joined by H.M. Submarines FINWHALE and THERMO- H.M.S. CAMBRIAN, and we met the half leader PYLAE. of the Squadron, H.M.S. BLACKPOOL, heading Rotterdam in late autumn was a rain swept

East. In Gibraltar, we saw another ship of the city - in many ways very British in its general Squadron, H.M.S. LONDONDERRY, also East- atmosphere: we were very well looked after by the Gunnery

R.P.'s

T. A. S. Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, which was just had anticipated, and we sailed for the Beira area working up to the celebration of its tercentenary on 28th February, refueling at Gan, and from the

and by the Burgomaster and City Council. We R.F.A. PEARLEAF. We had eaten our way were there at the time of the St. Nicholas festival, through all our fresh provision, and it was with the time when the Dutch buy presents, Christmas mixed feelings that we watched the next lot, from being taken as a religious festival only. We thus the PEARLEAF, getting the occasional dunking had the benefit of a double Christmas spending during a somewhat boisterous transfer. Presalted spree - for St. Nicholas at Rotterdam, and our chips for supper! own Christmas on our return to Devonport. There Our job, and that of the other frigates who was some talk of a delayed sailing from Rotterdam shared the duty, was to watch shipping coming as a ship was said to be blocking the entrance to into, and leaving, Beira, which was the terminus the river: but this trouble was cleared, and we of the oil pipe line to Rhodesia. A list of ships joined the vast throng of vessels of all shapes and which might be carrying oil to Mr. Smith was sizes which headed down stream, past the miles of held, and we settled down to a regular routine of docks and the Europort complex, to the open sea. inspecting Beira anchorage, and steaming up and Then back to Devonport, to the familiar South down a 15 mile line. EAGLE'S aircraft conducted Yard, for Christmas leave. the long range search, later joined by an R.A.F. Before we went our various ways, the Lord Shackleton aircraft. One encounter with a "listed" Mayor and City Council kindly gave us a splendid tanker was a sort of dry run for the later encounter reception in the elegant new Council Office block with JOANNA V. - another of those kind gestures which have made our links with the City of Plymouth so strong and JOANNA V so pleasant: during this period a lusty blow was struck for the rights of the sailor in uniform, The story started with an instruction to pro- which resulted in fame in the National press and ceed to the South, and keep an eye on her. When on radio and television. we met her, she claimed that she was awaiting We all scrambled back from leave, and before instructions, and was steaming slowly up and we had time to get our breaths back we were at down, barely making steerage way. Eventually, sea, in company with our old friends of the she either made up her mind, or had it made up

Squadron, H.M.S. CAMBRIAN and CHICHES- for her, and proceeded north, towards Beira. We TER, following the well worn groove in the ocean shadowed her, and exchanged signals: she declared that runs from the United Kingdom to Singapore. her intention of proceeding to Djibouti - a We stopped again at Gibraltar and Malta; paused curious destination, and it was far from clear why for a few hours only at Aden, fuelled and swam she should have circumnavigated Africa to get at Gan, and met TIDEREACH north of Sumatra there, or what she intended to do when she got for the first RAS of the season. We entered Singa- there, since oil unloading facilities at the port were pore on an overcast Sunday evening, to be met known to be severely limited. It became clear that by a large number of COMFEF's staff officers. this was all camouflage, and that she was in reality, We felt that we'd never been away! heading for Beira, and at this stage the Captain Our stay in Singapore was slightly prolonged: went on board her to talk to the Master, or rather on the passage out there had been a switchboard to someone calling himself the Master. fire, but Singapore Dockyard made good the JOANNA V was adamant that she was going damage, and we sailed to take part in exercise into Beira, and we had no authority to stop her: MILLSTREAM in mid February. so in she went, and at the time of writing she is This was a national exercise in the Singapore in there still, still with her oil on board, as a result - Borneo area, and on its conclusion we returned of the diplomatic storm resulting in her arrival. to Singapore for some hectic days of sport in Shortly after this episode we sailed for Mom- MILLSPORT. "Friar" Tuck became the Far East basa, where we arrived on Easter Saturday, having Fleet bolus champion at this time, and is now spent 41 days at sea continuously (not counting probably the only Able Seaman to fly his flag at the fuel stop at Gan) - perhaps a peace time sea - a white Friar, with bolus, on a blue back- record for a small ship. We had inadvertently ground. managed to get our names into the home news- papers, and had a "Well done" from the Prime Beira patrol Minister. An East African cruise was advertised for the Mombasa was a quiet but pleasant run, with month of March: events in that part of the world many people taking the opportunity to go up brought things to a head slightly earlier than we country and have a look at wild animals (we all W. E.

The Officers know that rhino's a vegetarian, but does he know Inspection, Hong Kong, and the trip home he's a vegetarian?). Everyone got back safely, very This book has to be written before the end of enthusiastic about the pleasures of a safari. The the commission, and at the moment we are looking principle "rabbits" were all manner of wood forward to our Inspection: to a final week in Hong carvings, and the quarterdeck was covered with Kong towards the end of June: then a quick dash tiny pairs of wooden giraffes, wooden bowls, boxes, down to Singapore, from whence we sail for home and salad servers. With no disrespect to the Chief on 30th June, with a slight variant in what is by G.I., who coped admirably while we were on now a familiar track - two days visiting a port in patrol, quite a few found it a relief to get a decent the Mediterranean, probably Corfu, although this hair cut ashore! There was a considerable amount still has to be confirmed at the time of writing. The of private entertainment which we very much great date is the 28th July, when we reach Devon- appreciated: and Mombasa is a fascinating town in port and, after Customs clearance, sail up the its own right - especially the old town, with its Hamoaze with families embarked, then the ship mixture of Arab and Portugese architecture. A will die for a very long weekend. The following very good run ashore. week there will be a great unloading of stores and And so we sailed back to Singapore, toying ammunition by day time, and a farewell party, and briefly with the idea of turning right on leaving perhaps a dance, on a couple of evenings. It is a Mombasa, and nipping down to Beira and see how pity that we cannot undertake our modernisation JOANNA V was getting on. In the event we in Devonport Dockyard, where the ship was built, sailed east to Gan, and from thence to Singapore and from whence she has always sailed and to Dockyard, and probably the biggest spending spree which she has always returned. However, Chatham of 1966 - all the main presents to take home seem is to reconstruct us: we sail there in early August: to have been bought during the three and a half the ship's company will steadily diminish until, by weeks of the ship's assisted maintainance period. the end of the month everybody will have left, and They will have to be well hidden until after the the ship will be in Dockyard control. Admiral's Inspection, due during the second week "I remember you - we were in PLYMOUTH in June. How does one stow a rocking horse and in '64-'66. She wasn't a bad old ship, was she? a small tricycle in a kit locker? Do you remember when... "

A.B. TEMPLE and friends Outdoor Sports

L/ S Rooke, O.S. Jaconelli A.B. Hay A.B. Walsh L/S Morris

The Champ

A.B. Mole Divisional Remarks S&S

The Division consists of two Officers and 27 raising a football team, we managed to win 6 of Ratings, making ours the smallest on board. The our 10 games. Ck (S) `Tony' VELLA played Supply Officer (who is also Divisional Officer) is frequently for the ship. Our rugby skill has never Lieutenant Commander J. N. HOUSE. been called upon as a Division, but five of the Life onboard has been far from dull for the Division play regularly for the ship - PO Writer Division, as the working day, which stretches far `Dave' BARKER, L. Std. `Jock' STEPHENS, into the evening in many cases, keeps us busy and Writer `Jan' COOMBES, SA `Tiger' WILLS and on our toes. The `Scribes' in particular, whom we THE Tanky AB `Friar' TUCK. `Dave' BARKER, all befriend each Wednesday before Pay Day, `Tiger' WILLS and `Friar' TUCK also represented work tremendously long hours but still come out the Squadron. smiling, probably following the example of their The Division has never lacked a sense of leader, the Secretary (Lieutenant G. D. LEARY), adventure, as was shown on our Banyan at Paula whose smile never fades. Tioman. After several attempts by SA `Spike' Since the start of the Commission (June, HUGHES to start a fire (he obviously wasn't a Scout), we at last succeeded in raising enough heat 1964). we have visited 11 countries, much to the to cook our steak and onions, cooked by 'Willy' disgust of the Stewards. For them it means CTP's WILLIS. to be held, which in turn keeps them busy. During the Commission the Division has had We have had our fair share of advancements to keep the ship supplied with necessities. Here in the Division. Leading Steward `Bill' WYATT are a few facts and figures to illustrate the point. to Petty Officer, Leading Writer `Bill' GEAR to By the time we arrive home we expect to have Petty Officer, Leading Cook (O) 'Willy' WILLIS used 11,000 miles (nautical of course) of toilet rolls to Petty Officer, Cook (O) HOOPER to Leading (enough "bumph" to stretch from UK to Tokyo), Cook, and Leading Cook (S) `Jock' DONALDSON 82,832 tots (enough `food of the God's to keep assuming the duties of A/PO CK (S) Local for a even our Tanky happy) and 379,861 Lbs of fresh short spell. An award from the Herbert Lott (????) potatoes (enough to make a plentiful supply Naval Trust Fund was awarded to SA `Rasputin' of Oggies). GUEST in recognition for services as an LSA during the ship's passage to the Far East in 1965. We are all busily preparing for our Inspection (The LSA was granted Compassionate Leave, and in June, and as the Commission draws to a close joined the ship in Singapore). it is unlikely that any of us will forget our time onboard, particularly the comradeship of the Divi- Sport has always played an important part in sion which has been an asset to us all which one the Division, and we can boast some very worth- hopes will be met throughout the Service as a while players. Although often finding difficulty in member of the S & S. A word from the communications department

Although an unglamorous job, communica- branch is the Tactical side, or Bunting or Flag- tions is one of the most important jobs on a ship. waggers. It depends on what mood one is. What I mean is that when someone shouts through You will always find a `Bunting everywhere, a voice pipe to the Bridge Wireless Office and is on the bridge, on landing parties or anywhere else greeted with the reply - "Nerve centre, brain of where there is tactical communications to be car- the watch speaking!" - He's not always joking. ried out. The `Buntings' came into their own on If there's a telegram to be sent to a loved one, the night of the JOANNA V. Never had anyone give it to the B.W.O., the G.P.O. has nothing on seen so much depending on one signal - one signal them. The other side of the communications that could make or break the Smith Regime. Quo vadis ?

The mailman cometh

P.O.M.E. Mille r

L/Sea. Profitt Under the ever faithful guidance of the Chief Other small (profitless) sidelines of the depart- Yeoman the Buntings have done a very good job ment were the ship's newspaper (sparkers and or to quote a well known phrase "a job well done." buntings), football results (sparkers), and defaulter There is, believe it or not, yet another wing forms (this was done by whoever the Cox'n was agile enough to catch to do it). of the branch. It is called Electronic Warfare. I cannot really say much about these people Another subject for conversation is the mess

because they are never to be seen. Maybe I could funds. With these we aquired the mess eyesore - put this in a better light. So long are they in their a rented television set. It works, which, I suppose,

hammocks after a while you do not even notice is half the trouble. Whilst in Guz (Plymouth for that they are there. They seem to become per- illiterate civilians), the whole ship (it seemed) used manent fixtures. This is joking of course. to crowd into the mess to watch films like Double Ashore there is nothing like a communicator. Your Money, Supercar, Watch with Mother and I do hope that fifteen mess will accept our most any other programme that suits a matelots menta-

sincere apologies for any disturbances caused lity. Out here in the Far East it sits in the mess whilst in harbour between the hours of 2000 and covered with a blanket and is in fact, as I've

0700. It's your own fault for living next door. already said, an eyesore. The only thing mess The department was always represented in funds has really helped with was the time of the

` Great Cup Shortage'. The leading hand of the Volley-Ball, Football, Rugby and Beer drinking. We usually won the latter. (Worried parents and mess went ashore to buy some cups and now we've wives take note). almost run out of stowage space for them. While writing this in Singapore, I think of The next and I'm afraid the last topic is the the places I have been, seen and enjoyed while "Sacred" hour of "Tot-Time." This is always serving on Plymouth. Rotterdam, Gibraltar, Lon- presided over by any two of four people. I will donderry, Malta, Aden and in fact a whole host not mention any names in case of legal action. of places over the Far East. `Queens' (what is left in a rum fanny after the rum has been issued) was a permanent subject for Of all the original communicators who com- missioned with the ship around March 1964 only animosity, i.e. "I didn't have a wet of Queens!" about half remain. "Yes and I bet I know who saw it off as well" The ships longest bout of steaming was 40 And then from behind a bunk a Northern voice days and 41 nights at sea covering a distance of would say

13,000 miles, with the whole department closed "Well it wasn't me!" up in 3 watches. In fact, if my memory serves me On a more serious note, I think it will be a right, even the Electronic Warfare people were hard moment at the end of the commission when watchkeeping. That suddenly came to mind be- oppo's say "seeya" and depart to their respective cause I remembered all their mumbling and drafts, and saying goodbye to a ship where all in

` dripping' about it. But still, we mustn't be too all, there was "a job well done." hard on them for they did a good job. The Marine Engineering Department

The Engineering Division of H.M.S. Plymouth We had a pretty steady voyage out with only started off the commission in fine fettle, with slight variations in speed due to some infernal delusions of many happy hours of quiet steaming contraption the Seamen's Department was trying - this was not to be so. Very soon after we first out; something beyond the comprehension of a raised steam, on coming out of refit, we were all simple stoker. amazed at the startling amount of defects, simple We reached Singapore with not a murmur of and complicated, which had to be rectified before commencing the work-up. The "work-up" was protest from our faithful engines "ANDY" and unavoidably delayed, much to the delight of the "FLORRY", and proceeded on several patrols. ships' company and to the frustration of the The highlight of the first foreign leg was, Engineer Officer. I think, our trip down to Aussie. But, the night However, we finally started the "work-up". before we sailed our main feed pump failed us; That over, we had a short stay in Plymouth before this time the ship's company was not so delighted, sailing for the first foreign leg of our commission. and the Engineer Officer even more frustrated.